Doctor Who: 10 Things Series 8 Must Do To Be The Best Yet

10. Embrace New Voices

No, not these kinds of voices. The first item on a list of must-haves for a successful year are new single episode writers. While the greatest criticisms are usually shot at showrunners€”with good reason€”there are a host of other writers in Doctor Who's hallowed history who also earn our praise and ire. Many of these other voices come with a distinctive flair. Mark Gatiss pens a lovely bit of historical fiction, Gareth Roberts can create a companion-worthy sidekick in half an episode, and Neil Gaiman is near unparalleled at building complex mythologies and worlds. But precisely because of the wide range of what is possible in the Doctor Who franchise, their spin can feel repetitive. Unlike many other television programmes that need the same pool of writers for narrative consistency, the ever-changing world of Doctor Who allows for continually fresh viewpoints. Thus, the best thing anyone can do for series eight and beyond is to continue to find the people out there ready, willing and able to challenge the TARDIS crews in new and interesting ways. At this point it is all but guaranteed there will be at least one new writer for the upcoming slate of thirteen stories. Doctor Who neophytes have a high bar to live up to, but their fresh perspective is exactly what is needed.